Corrales

Birthday Cakes

2010-07-22T13:19:00.000-07:00

Well it is that time of year again. Isabel and Kya celebrated another birthday. Isabel had a fun party with her friends at Boondocks. Kya and Isabel also celebrated with their family with a princess party at our house. This is going to be a short post today. Isabel and I had our tonsils out 5 days ago and we are still recovering. But I have been wanting to post the pictures of their cakes. I am not the best cake maker, but I have a ton of fun doing it. Kya's cake turned out very cute, but was also very time consuming. Isabel's was pretty easy. The tie dyed cake was a big hit. It was also my first time using fondant.I will post more pictures when I feel a bit better.

Freudian slip

2010-04-19T18:56:00.000-07:00

I did not reread my last entry before posting it. Ben read my post and commented on my many grammatical errors. (Most of which I went back and changed.) But I left the one he really liked and laughed about. When I mentioned Ben's new TV and lack of it's use. I said "When he is not home I will not get turned on for days." HHHHHMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!! What was really on my mind? According to Freud maybe I wasn't really thinking about the TV at all.

Update

2010-04-16T10:56:00.000-07:00

I have been such a slacker. I should be gardening or cleaning or exercising or folding the laundry, but I think I will actually post today. I keep thinking about Marquee telling me how badly I need to, so okay I will.

Ben is still running and loving it. He will be doing another 100 miler this year. He got into the Wasatch 100. I am excited because this one is in Utah. It will make crewing him much easier. But I did love our experience in Leadville last year.

Check out Isabel's blog. I posted an update there. This link is on the top right.

Kya is a little handful. I have a difficult time keeping my patience with her. She has a habit of getting into everything she is not supposed to and making enormous messes. But she is also very loving (which is what saves her from permanent time out). She tells me at least two dozens times a day she loves me.

Sophi is just fun, what can I say? The other day after she woke up, I was still tired so I brought her into my bed. I layed her down and said, "We have a blankie, a binki, and a mommy" and I gave her a big hug. Her reply was "HAPPY!"

Well I have been busy working and taking care of the kids. BLAH, BLAH, BLAH. The story of my life and everyone else's, right? So enough of the same old crap. Let's discuss something very serious. How in the world am I going to drop this last 25lbs that have been hanging onto my ass for way too long? I think what I need is someone to go walking with.

Any volunteers?

I really want to start walking up Maple canyon. I used to do this with some friends and I loved it.

I have been obsessed with books lately. I just finished reading the Hunger Games, and loved it. Has anyone read this? I am going to have a difficult time waiting for the next book to come out, but the wait will be worth it. I am thinking about joining a book club. But I worry that doing this will make reading seem like a chore instead of enjoyment. Does anyone belong to one, and if so do you like it? Ben recently splurged and bought a big screen TV. When he is not home I will not get turned on for days. I guess the TV will last forever with it's lack of use.

Does anyone have a suggestion for a good book? I need a new one.

Okay here are some random pictures?

Oh by the way I need to have my tonsils out and will probably do it in the next couple of months (both me and Isabel). Has anyone had them out as an adult? I hear it really sucks. But the doctor said most adults lose 10-15 pounds. I am not sure, but maybe it will be worth it.

St. Lucia

2010-01-06T13:14:00.000-08:00

Ben and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary by spending a week in St. Lucia. It was a much needed vacation for us. This was the first big vacation we have taken by ourselves since our honeymoon. Isn't that sad? Well we definitely made up for the lack of vacationing in one trip. We went zip lining in the jungle, snorkeling, kyacking, explored the island and did plenty of lounging by the pool and playing on the beach. My personal favorite part of the trip would have to be the Dirty Banana's we discovered. A Dirty Banana or Dirty Monkey as I renamed it, is a blended piece of heaven (or hell when over-consumed). We met two couples from New York and had a blast partying with them. Brooke & Ryan and Peg & Steve. Here are a few pictures so you can see just how much fun we had :)

The town of Soufriere

Our resort-Sandals Regency

The main pool at our resort

The view from our room

Us on the catamaran in front of the Pitons

On the beach

PaRtYiNg!!!!!!

Sexy!!!

GNO.....

2009-10-20T21:06:00.000-07:00

GIRLS NIGHT OUT!!!!!!!

We had a really fun girls night out a couple of weeks ago. Me, Isabel, Stacey (my sister-in-law) and Cecilia (my niece) went to the Miley Cyrus concert. We had a lot of fun. It was a much needed break from the daily grind. I got out of work early so I could pick Isabel up from school. We started out our night with dinner at Johnny Carino's. I had been completely frazzled that week. Getting out sure helped lighten my mood and made me feel 100% better. Stacey would tell you it had to do with the Italian Margaritas (notice the pleural), that SHE kept ordering for me at dinner. But I think don't think so, well okay maybe they helped a little. I was amazed at how good the concert was. Miley put on an awesome show. Just after the concert started Isabel was dieing of thirst, so I went to the concession stand to get her a drink. When I got back they were announcing Miley had to take a break and that she would be right back. Apparently she ran off stage in the middle of her second song. When she came back on stage she said she was sick, but would finish the show. She did take several breaks, but they kept us entertained. The next day I heard she actually had to run of stage to vomit. Could you imagine if she did that on stage? Ben told me that someone commented to him that there are no pictures of me on the blog. Well these are the first.

My camera does not take good distance pictures in the dark, oh well.

Me and Izzy at the concert.

Cecilia and Stacey

Isabel loves to pose!

Like I said, it's all about the pose.
(Did you notice the empty salt rimmed glass in the picture, OOPS!)

WHATEVER?!?!?!

2009-09-21T20:44:00.000-07:00

THIS IS WHERE KYA DECIDED SHE WOULD SLEEP TONIGHT. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT I HAVE OFTEN THOUGHT HOW COMFY IT WOULD BE TO SLEEP ON A HARD PLASTIC TOTE AT THE END OF MY BED. IT IS MOMENTS LIKE THIS WHEN I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO PICK YOUR BATTLES WISELY. THIS WAS ONE BATTLE I WAS NOT GOING TO WORRY ABOUT.

Leadville 100 mile trail run

2009-09-10T21:13:00.000-07:00

Ben ran and finished the Leadville 100 mile trail run, also known as the Race Across the Sky. He finished in 27 hours, 38 minutes and 16 seconds. There were nearly 600 people that started the race, around 270 finished and Ben finished 121st overall.
The race started at 4am in the town of Leadville, Colorado. Leadville has an elevation of 10,200 ft. At the pre-race physical Ben's oxygen saturation level was 90 (fyi-in the hospital when your sats drop below 90 and you are hooked to a monitor the alarm will sound). Just so that you get an idea of the low oxygen levels at such high elevation. I was there as Ben's crew, along with his good friend Shane Martin. Shane helped me crew Ben the first 50 miles of the race, and paced him the last 50. We had a lot of fun together. Shane has ran several 100 mile races so his wisdom was very, very, helpful. The race is an out and back, meaning that they run out 50 miles and then back over the same trail for the second 50. Which made crewing the second half (in the dark and half asleep) that much easier.
He ran the entire race without sleeping. We were up for a total of 38 hours before we went to sleep. Well I did take a 2 hour nap. Between one of the aid stations I knew I had 3 hours until he would arrive. So I set my cell phone alarm clock and took a little snooze in the back of my Yukon on the side of the road in the middle of the mountains. I was a little bit freaked out, but really too tired to care. It sucks when you are still tired after 2 No-Doz, a red bull, monster java, starbucks espresso shots, and a dr. pepper. There just comes a point when the only way around being tired is getting some sleep. In a 100 mile race there are aid station set up the give the runners the things they need to keep going water, food, etc. I met Ben at all the aid station to give him the things he needed. Once he changed his shoes, because he had to cross a river twice. At one aid station I use a little back pack stove and had some hot potatoes cooked with loads of butter and salt. (I know what you are thinking and yes I am the best wife in the world!!!!! And believe me he knows!)
Let me tell you a little bit about the course. At almost the halfway point he had to ran over Hope Pass. The top of Hope Pass is at approximately 12,600 ft. That is a 1400 ft elevation gain in one pass (it is only a few miles, maybe 7?) HOLY HELL!!! Can you imagine going over that only to know you have to turn around and do it again after you just finished running 50 miles. I find it simply amazing.
Ben rocked the first 50 miles of the race. He was one of the first 50 (I think, maybe it was 70?) to come into the 50 mile aid station. After about 70 miles one of his knees starting hurting. So on top of a sore knee, sleep deprivation, and the fatigue of having already running 70 miles he was completely exhausted. But he had Shane pacing him, to keep him going. (A pacer is someone you can have run with you to keep you going. Also compliments to Shane for the photographic documentation of the race) Needless to say he over came all of the above and finished!!! I heard the race director say "You are better than you think you are and you can do more than you think you can." I like that statement. I guess we never know what we are capable of until we try.
At the award ceremony after the race there were some people that could not stand or sit without assistance. Ben was limping pretty good, but he could at least walk unassisted. Although he did use me as a crutch from time to time.
Here are some of Shane's awesome picture. Thanks Shane!
Oh, and I should mention that there was a 70 year old man that finished the race (before Ben)

CONGRATULATION ON SUCH AN AWESOME ACCOMPLISHMENT BEN!!!

this is Ben on top of Hope Pass

Just to give you an idea of what the run is like up to Hope Pass

And no he is not drinking the water, just washing off his face.
(I almost shit my pants when I saw this picture, no pun intended, LOL)

this is the fatigue and sleep deprivation I was talking about

this is the last road to the finish line

This is Ben and Shane at the finish line

2009-09-08T20:44:00.000-07:00

Sophie turned one, can you believe it. I know I am a month late on the update, but we have been busy (Ben ran the Leadville 100 mile trail run). She is no longer a crawler, she is walking all over the place. She tries very hard to keep up with Isabel and Kya and gets better at it everyday. She is a very happy baby, but loves to scream. This is a new thing and I certainly hope it does not last. When she needs attention or just wants to be heard she will scream at the top of her lungs, not tantrum screaming, just screaming for the sake of screaming. Here are a few picutures of her eating her watermelon birthday cake.

YUMMY!

Sophie loved her cake. She kept wanting to share with everyone.

This was by far one of the easiest cakes I have made, but it was just as cute as all the others!

This was a difficult picture to get. Everytime I backed up to take the picure she was diving for her cake. By the look on her face you can tell she is trying to decide how to beat me to the cake.

Birthdays

2009-07-22T18:33:00.000-07:00

July brings the girls birthday and lots of fun cake decorating for me. I look forward to this all year. There is nothing better that a great birthday party. I think I enjoy their birthdays just as much as they do. This year the cakes turned out really cute.
Kya turned 3 and requested a flip flop cake. All she wanted for her birthday was an umbrella, so she got a pair of cute rain boots to match. It even rained on her birthday so she got to go outside and try them out. Isabel is 7, but if you ask her she is 8 (she insists that we have counted incorrectly, I am not sure where she got this idea). Isabel got to have a party with her friends. It was a purse party. She had a lot of fun.

Squaw Peak 50 Mile Trail Run 2009

2009-06-18T10:08:00.000-07:00

Well Ben did it again. He ran the Squaw Peak 50 Mile Trail Run. He finished last year in 12 hours. He rocked this year and finished in 9 hours and 36 minutes. I am not certain, but I think he finished 15th overall. I think Ben has found his "SOLE PURPOSE", or at least found something he is damn good at.

This is him running to the finish line.

Here are some random family pictures:

This is Kya playing in flour. Isn't she an angel?

Sophie is just plain cute!!!

Baby vampire teeth.
(probably a result of my Twilight addiction when she was a newborn)

Isabel did a cheer clinic and had a lot of fun. She was even in the Art City Day's Parade.

A little at a time

2009-05-09T06:49:00.000-07:00

I will get everyone updated a little at a time. Let's start with some pictures of Sophie.

She is such a happy baby. She is now crawling like a pro and starting to walk along the furniture. She is in a hurry to try to keep up with her big sisters. She officially has vampire teeth. She has her two bottom front teeth, but on the top her vampire (are they called cuspids?) teeth have come in before the two front teeth. Is this a result of my brief Twilight addiction?

BUSY BUSY BUSY

2009-05-09T06:21:00.000-07:00

I HAVE BEEN VERY BUSY LATELY. I HAVE A LOT TO BLOG ABOUT AND LOTS OF CUTE PICTURES. I WILL POST BEFORE THE WEEKEND IS OVER.

More race results!

2009-03-28T14:51:00.000-07:00

Ben ran the Antelope Island Buffalo 50K today. He finished in 4 hours and 46 minutes, 9th overall. There were over 100 runners. He was overall very happy with his run, except he got "chicked" at the end of his race. These are Ben's words not mine. Two girls passed him in the last half mile.

KYA'S NEW DO!

2009-03-28T09:13:00.000-07:00

What do you think?

Before:

After:

I think it really matches her personality, very spunky! My friend Cynthia cut her hair. She was very patient. I took two cuts to get it finished. Kya was done with her hair cut, but Cynthia was only had done. So Cynthia went above and beyond and came over after she got off work to finish it up. Thanks to Cynthia for being patient. Kya was funny she told Cynthia twice "WATCH IT!!" She is quite the character.

Moab Red Hot 50k Results

2009-03-25T18:18:00.000-07:00

I know these are a bit late. But Ben did fantastic in his run. He was hoping to finish in less than 6 hours, but said he would be elated with 5 and a half. He split it right in the middle and finished in 5 hours and 48 minutes. I don't know how he does it.
He is planning on running the Leadville 100 mile run in August. No, that is not a typo. He does plan on running ONE HUNDRED miles. The race starts really early in the morning and he will run straight through the night until he reaches the finish line. We are talking about running for 24+ hours. He is crazy, but he loves it.

50K

2009-02-11T20:06:00.001-08:00

Ben is running in the Moab Red Hot 50K (34 miles) this weekend. I will let you all know how he does. Wish him luck!!!

Simply Amazed!!!!

2009-01-29T12:24:00.000-08:00

I came home from work yesterday exhausted. Sophie has kept me up the last two nights. She is fine during the day, but wakes up SCREAMING in the middle of the night. I knew I would have to take her to the after hours clinic to have her ears checked.

When I walked in the house Ben and the girls were sitting down eating dinner. Ben had made steaks, potatoes and corn. This isn't too unusual. He does cook a good dinner on the nights I work. But there is more. There is a counter full of cupcakes. The girls told me that daddy helped them make them. They were unfrosted, because he said he wasn't sure how to make frosting. Easy enough, I can make frosting. Then Ben asks me if I would like him to fix me a plate of food. Besides all of this the house was picked up and the dishes were done. He had also done laundry and went to the grocery store earlier. WOW!!!!

But there is more.

I had to leave to take Sophie to the doctor. They told me she had a severe infection in her right ear. This sucks because it was the result of her last sickness: fever, throwing up, runny nose. Poor little girl. All of this in just a matter of weeks. Anyway when I get home, the dinner dishes were done, the girls had been bathed, cupcakes frosted, Isabel's homework done, and the girls were in bed asleep. I just have to brag a little bit at how amazing he is. Who would have ever thought Ben had this in him. Well he definitely had me fooled. I am so completely amazed at how well he does all of this. It means more to me than he knows. I am so lucky that our role reversal has been so uncomplicated. I guess you don't know what hidden talents you have until you give new things a try. Ben could definitely win the homemaker of the year award. I am very lucky to have such a great husband. I love him alot!!!

Sorry for just a mushy, sappy post. But Ben deserves the recognition! Don't you think?

Grandma Cleo

2009-01-24T20:24:00.000-08:00

Cleo U. Corrales

Loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, Cleo U. Corrales, 88, of Provo, Utah, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on January 20, 2009 at UVRMC in Provo. Cleo was born November 26, 1920 in Rosa, New Mexico to Carlos Ulibarri and Brigida Salazar. She married Jose Cayetano Corrales on September 20, 1941 in Aztec, New Mexico. She attended school at Middle Mesa in New Mexico. She was an excellent homemaker to her family and friends she loved dearly. She was a long time member of the St. Francis Catholic church where she was a member of Guadalupana Society and Women's League. She also worked in school lunch at St. Francis. Cleo had countless friends, was very well known and couldn't go anywhere without running into someone she knew. She loved her trips to Wendover and was always ready to go.

She is survived by her children Ben (Marcia) Corrales, Fred J. Corrales and Mary (Juan) Ruiz, 7 grandchildren, 13 great grand children; sisters, Cordelia Gurule, Dora Rivera and Tita Avina and a brother Johnny Salazar. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, 3 children, 5 brothers and 5 sisters.

Mass will be held Monday, January 26 at 11:00 AM at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 65 East 500 North in Orem. A viewing will be held one hour prior and on Sunday, January 25 from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM at the same location. Interment at Provo City Cemetery. Online condolences may be given at www.serenicare.com.

Special thanks to Dr. Militaru at UVRMC and Dave the "Gentle Giant".

LOOK WHAT KYA DID.....

2009-01-19T20:24:00.001-08:00

Sophie Update

2009-01-18T14:20:00.000-08:00

It has been a while since I have posted updated pictures of my little angel. And I mean angel literally. She has changed a lot, except for the fact that she is still the best baby ever. She has been sick with a fever and throwing up this weekend and yet she is still happy. We love her a lot.

Freaky

2009-01-16T13:50:00.000-08:00

Do your kids ever say things that completely freak you out? Well one night Ben was gone and it was just me and the girls home. Isabel was in time out in her bedroom with the door shut, I was in Sophie's room feeding her a bottle and Kya was in the toy room (in the basement next to her and Isabel's room) playing. Kya came upstairs crying uncontrollably. This was our conversation:

Me: Kya, what is wrong?

Kya: That boy downstairs bit my finger.

Me: WHAT????

Kya: That mean boy downstairs bit my finger.

Okay at this point I am freaking out. I am a scaredy cat. After watching the movie THE STRANGERS, I slept with the lights on for a month. Honestly, you can ask Ben. I am a freak.

Me: Kya what are you talking about? Did Isabel hurt you?

Kya: No mom it was that mean boy.

Me: Okay show me where the mean boy is.

At this point I am trying to remember how to defend myself in case there is a scary little boy in the basement who likes to bite fingers. If you believe it, I was once a black belt in karate. But that seems like a lifetime ago. I figured I could at least incapacitate an attacker long enough to get me and the girls out of the house.

We went to the basement and Kya is cowarding behind me. I look around the toy room and the only thing frightening in the room is the huge mess the girls made. When I asked Kya to show me where the boy was she walked over to the toy box and pointed to SHREK!!! Yes Shrek was the mean boy. It is a stuffed animal that is taller than Kya. She was terrified.

For now Shrek is put up. But Isabel will find him from time to time just to scare the pants off of Kya. And it does. Every time she sees him she lets out a horrified scream and starts crying. It is so sad.

Addiction

2009-01-08T19:29:00.000-08:00

I have been neglecting a few things in my life the last two weeks due to a severe addiction. The one thing that has suffered the most would be my sleeping, or lack there of. Many nights I would not go to bed until 4 or 5 in the morning. I am a closet addict. I went to great lengths to not let Ben know the extent of my addiction. So I would carry on life as usual during the day, but at night it was all about this new secret devotion of mine. I have my sister Tiffany to thank for the introduction of the extreme addiction. Most of you have posted things about Christmas and New Years, but not me. I have been completely preoccupied. I have been consuming large amounts of caffeine to keep me going during the day, which has led to a two day migraine.

UGH!!! I AM SUCH AN IDIOT!!!

Are you wondering what has been my obsession?

What could possible keep me up at nights?

What on earth could possible be this addictive?

ONE WORD WILL ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, BUT TWO WILL LEAVE NO DOUBT:

EDWARD and BELLA

Yes, it was the Twilight series. An impossible love story. Who doesn't love a good romance. Especially if you throw in a few vampires and werewolves.

I read all four books in the last two weeks and I am completely obsessed and very tired. I just finished reading Midnight Sun (Twilight from Edward's perspective). Have you read it? It is awesome. But it is only partial and only online. I hope she finishes it. I liked hearing Edward's side of things.

While obsessing over these books, I have often thought about a line Edward uses in the book. He says that Bella is his "own personal brand of heroine", he just can't stay away from her. I know what he means.

After finishing the first book, I had to go see the movie. I was so excited. I loved it and was slightly annoyed. Edward was not very nice to Bella in the movie. What was up with that? But I loved it anyway. I can't wait for the next movie. I will be one of the first to see it in the Midnight showing. I am not even sure when it will come out. So for any of you that are Twilight fans. Call me and we can go see the next one together.

Now if I could only get caught up on my sleep.

Wrapped or unwrapped?

2008-12-21T22:18:00.000-08:00

Well I waited as long as possible to put presents under the tree. By the end of the day Kya only unwrapped one. I explained to her that santa only brings presents to good girls. If she is naughty and unwraps another present santa will not bring her any "YIPGOSS" (translation:lipgloss). I think this did the trick. She must be serious about that yipgoss.

We're Home

2008-12-13T07:56:00.000-08:00

We are excited to have Isabel home from the hospital. I came home and spent thursday night with Kya and Sophie. It was late and Kya was trying to put her shoes on. I asked her what she was doing and she said "I'm going to find Izzy mom." I think she missed her, ALOT!!! But she didn't waste anytime pestering her when she got home.

I got out the highchair for Sophie and it was so cute, she was kicking her little legs so hard with excitement I thought she would kick herself right out of it. I guess it is time for some cereal now.

Isabel's blog

2008-12-04T08:31:00.000-08:00

I created a seperate blog for Isabel. I thought this would be a great tool to keep everyone informed about what is going on with her surgery and such. I created a link on the top right under Isabel's chiari journey.

Does anyone still read my blog????

2008-12-03T21:25:00.001-08:00

I suck! I haven't posted in a long time. I have been a bit overwhelmed with life's challenges the last couple of weeks. I do have a lot to blog about, but where to start.........

Maybe I should tell you about the chocolate milk shake Kya poured over her head while sitting in her carseat in the back of the Yukon. Or maybe not. I am still trying to forget about it.

Or maybe the fact that I have an amazing husband. As most of you know Ben has been out of work for the past couple of months. After my maternity leave was up I went back to work and Ben stayed home with the kids. I was very worried about how this would work out. But it has been awesome. He does laundy, dishes, light housework, goes to the grocery store and even has dinner on the table when I come home from work. And I'm not talking about mac and cheese, an actual home cooked meal. I LOVE HIM! But I have to say it makes me wonder what other hidden talents he might have.

The most daunting thing on my mind these days is Isabel's surgery. It is on Monday, only a few days away. She got some new PJ's and a robe, Hannah Montana of course. We still need to pack a bag full of her favorite things. But most importantly I feel mentally prepared. Isabel and I went to a presurgery class at Primary Chilrens's Hospital. It was good for both of us. They will even let Isabel take a comfort item into surgery with her. I think she is going to take her favorite stuffed animal. She knows she is having surgery and she knows the basics, but no real details. If she asks a question I answer her honestly. She knows that a peice of bone from the back of her skull will be removed. The other day she told me she knows they are going to take out her entire brain and she will not be able to think anymore. I am not sure where that came from? I assured her that would not happen and she hasn't mentioned it again.

Isabel loves to do her own hair. Doesn't she look like a little girl from Holland?

And just one more item of concern I have. My little Sophie is so CUTE and is seriously the BEST baby EVER!!!! But what is up with her hair? Do I cut it or just wait for the rest of it to fall out. So far my solution is to draw attention away from it with a cute headband.

Does anyone still read my blog????

2008-12-03T21:25:00.000-08:00

ISABEL

2008-11-16T20:07:00.000-08:00

We met with the neurosurgeon and Isabel will be having surgery. The surgery is a Chiari Decompression (CLICK ON THE WORD FOR A DESCRIPTION). We will be doing this the 8th of December. Ben and I really liked the neurosurgeon, Dr. Brockmeyer. I have been a wreck after each doctor's appointment, but not this one. I feel very confident with Dr. Brockmeyer's ability to help Isabel. It is still scary, and there may be future surgeries and definitely more MRI's (at 6K a pop, nice huh, thank god for insurance) and x-rays. Isabel seems a little nervous, but I try to help her focus on the fun part of this: new pj's for her and her build-a-bear, and planning a day of fun before her surgery. The doctor told us the first two days following the surgery will be ROUGH. But after that she will get better quickly. The good news is she doesn't have to shave her head. I was worried about that. Another benefit is I now have a very difficult time telling her "NO". She pretty much gets what ever she wants. Last week I let her stay up until 10:30 on a school night watching the disney channel. She loves watching The Suite Life, Hannah Montana, The Wizards of Waverly Place, etc. It is amazing how something like this really changes how you look at your kids. I need to slow down and enjoy them more. Who cares if the floors are vacuumed or if the dishes are done. It is important to enjoy every moment.

What Da.....

2008-11-11T20:29:00.000-08:00

(THIS IS HER "CHEEEEEESE")
I love the things that comes out of Kya's mouth. She says and does the funniest things. Her new thing is saying "what da my heck" or "what da oh my gosh". I don't know where she got this, but it makes me laugh. I am just glad it doesn't include any four letter words. She also loves to say "ta da" and twirl (especially if she is wearing a dress). She will does this until she gets so dizzy she falls. We were looking at a christmas catalog and she pointed to all the dress ups things and called them ta da's. It's little things like this that help balance out the terrible two's.

P.S. We see the pediatric neurosurgeon on thursday.

What's going on......

2008-11-04T08:04:00.000-08:00

Life has been chaotic at our house.

The hunting season is over and I have a husband again (YEAH!!!) and a freezer full of elk and deer meat. Ben tried making his own jerky. I'll be honest, it was kind of okay. But it was his favorite fall snack as a kid. His parents and grandparents would make it every year after the deer hunt. Isabel helped Ben and his mom, Evelyn, make the jerky. Isabel was in charge of the spices. We think she got carried away with the salt resulting in the not so great taste. Let's face it, it is just easier to blame it on the six year old.

Halloween was a fun distraction from the craziness. Isabel made a perfect Jasmine with her long brown hair. Kya loves horses so of course she was a cowgirl. Sophie was a cute little kitty. We had a lot of halloween fun: riding a haunted train, decorating cookies at Nicky's house,trunck or treating at Kim's house, party at Aunt Stacey's and of course Trick or Treating.

Christy and Sophie

Ben and sleeping Sophie

Look at them pose!

Mr. or should I say Mrs. Potatohead pumpkins

Isabel got her MRI. She was very brave. She had to have her IV put in twice, the first one didn't work. The nurse gave her a very cute beanie baby with red and blue stars on it. That seemed to make the tears go away. She was given sedation because the test took over an hour. I don't know a six year old that could hold still that long. She was out of it for the rest of the day. The sedation made her act pretty silly. Later that day Ben was helping her up the stair and she kept stumbling she asked him "why can't I walk?" The nurse said she would act DRUNK and she did. I got the results back and they were not what we were hoping for. She has a type I Chiari Malformation and a Syrinx (fyi: click on the word for a definition). We will be going to see a Pediatric Nuerosurgeon for an evaluation. Most likely she will need to have some time of surgical procudure to have this fixed.

PLEASE KEEP HER IN YOUR PRAYERS.

Another Sleepful Night

2008-10-13T13:13:00.000-07:00

WOOHOO!!!!!

Yes another night of a full 8 hours of sleep. She did it again. She slept for a full 8 hours without waking up. There is a down side to this. It is only because she is sucking her thumb! YIKES!!!

I thought I would include some pictures of her room. I think it has turned out quite cute.

Thumbsucking.....

2008-10-12T07:29:00.000-07:00

Do I love it or hate it? When I look at Isabel's overbite I hate thumbsucking. But last night Sophie slept through the night. When I woke up at 7am and she was still sleeping. I peered into her crib and she was sucking her thumb. I was happy and sad all at the same time. I have kept a binki in her mouth since the second she was born hoping that she would take to it instead of her thumb. Maybe it was all in vain. She has been sucking on her hands a lot lately, I guess she has been in search of something better than her binki.

When Isabel was a baby she was very colicy. She would cry all day long. I tried everything, but nothing would calm her. My Aunt Pat told me her best babies were thumbsuckers. So I gave Isabel her thumb. I kept putting her thumb in her mouth until she could do it herself. She slept through the night at 6 weeks. It was the only thing that kept me sane. Well now 6 years later I have a dental nightmare on my hands. On our last trip to the dentist he told me he has only seen one overbite worse that Isabel's caused from thumbsucking. He said on a scale from 1 to 10, her's is a 10. And not a good 10.

If anyone has any good tips on getting someone to stop sucking their thumb I would love to hear about it. I have tried everything. The problem is she only sucks it at night. Not even to get to sleep. Only in the middle of the night when she is asleep. My pediatrician said that peir pressure is the best way to get a child to stop, but I am sure she is not getting much pressure from her pillow or stuffed animals to do any good.

Anyway on a good note I got a full night's sleep. Thank you Sophie! I guess I will just have to keep good dental or should I say orthodontic insurance!!!

What a cutie!!!

She loves bath time.

I love to smile :)

Look at me I'm a big girl!

MRI

2008-10-11T09:43:00.001-07:00

We saw Dr. Smith (a very nice doctor) at Primary Children's Hospital. He wants Isabel to have an MRI of her entire spine. He thinks she may have a Chiari malformation. It is as scary as it sounds. If she does in deed have this Chiari malformation. She will have to see a neurosurgeon and the likelyhood of her having surgery is high. If she does not have the malformation we will be looking at a brace (that will be worn 16-17 hours a day). She still has a lot of growing to do since she is only 6 and that means the curve in her spine can get worse as she grows. This doctor told us the curve is actually 37%. It was a good thing Ben and Isabel were in the doctor's office when we got this news. Because I was holding back the tears. I didn't wasnt Isabel to see me cry. The thought of my daughter having to have brain surgery is a little overwhelming. Ben told me not to get worried until after we get the MRI results and know exactly what we are dealing with. And this is what I am TRYING to do. I am hoping to get the MRI and the results within the next week.

Isabel

2008-10-07T20:49:00.001-07:00

What a cutie! She loves to pose and have her picture taken. I bet you couldn't tell from this picture, HUH? I have been busy on my maternity leave. I am now caught up on having the girls pictures taken. What a relief. Another item to cross off of my never ending list. I keep a dry erase board on my fridge. I write all my to do's on this board. For every item I cross off I add five more. It can be overwhelming, but it keeps me busy and productive. Anyway back to Isabel. She is learning to read and getting better everyday. She loves to read and especially write. Every scrap of paper is filled with her writings. Sometimes she will ask me how to spell words, but mostly she likes to sound spell. It is fun to try and read something she has written. It is kind of a puzzle. She is very SASSY!!! I don't know how I am going to manage with the hormones of three girls. Hopefully I will keep my sanity. When I took Isabel in for her 6 year old check up she was diagnosed with scoliosis. CRAZY!!!!! She has a 26% curvature of her t-spine. I am taking her to Primary Children's Hospital this week. I am hoping for the best. I don't really know what this means except what I have read online and let's face it when you read about a medical condition online you get a lot of the extremes: surgery, body braces, etc. Both the radiologist and the pediatrician didn't seen too worried so I haven't been either. Just anxious to see what this really means for her.

UGH!!!!!!

2008-10-07T08:39:00.001-07:00

I just wrote a very long post and it vanished! What the @#%&! I guess I will try again later. I can hear Kya upstairs bothering a sleeping Sophie.

Sophie

2008-09-11T06:05:00.000-07:00

Wow, how time flies. Has it really been a month? Sophie is starting to smile a lot these days. It makes Isabel very happy when she can get her to smile. Sophie is sleeping better, but there is definitely room for improvement. Her umbilical cord finally fell off after 4 long weeks. The girls love to help bath her but make a big wet mess in the process. It is amazing to me how much the girls love their little sister.

Kya

2008-09-11T05:53:00.000-07:00

Kya turned 2 in July and what a handful she is. She is a lot of fun but is definitely into the terrible twos. She loves to copy cat everything Isabel does. She acts like a little mother to Sophie. Everytime Sophie even fusses a little Kya is on a dead run for the binki and will try to shove it down poor Sophie's throat. She is constantly wanting to kiss Sophie and then the next moment she will be pulling her hair. Needless to say I cannot take my eyes off of her.

2008-08-24T14:06:00.000-07:00

Hobble Creek 1/2 Marathon

2008-08-23T19:11:00.000-07:00

Well I think most of you know about Ben's new addiction. Running. He ran the Hobble Creek Half Marathon today. His goal was to finish in the top 100. He ran the same race last year and came in 143rd. Today he finished in 1 hour 26 minutes and was the 34th person to cross the finish line.

Isabel's first day of school

2008-08-23T18:57:00.000-07:00

Isabel was excited to start school. I think she was most excited about her Hannah Montana backpack Grandma Glenda bought her. Kya was very sad Isabel was gone all day. She kept asking "Where's Izzy?". She probably asked me where she was at least 100 times.

INTRODUCING.....

2008-08-12T12:15:00.000-07:00

AnnaSophia Corrales. After a whole 4 hours of labor our family has grown by 19 inches and 6lbs 5oz. It was a full delivery room of anxious family members waiting to welcome our new little bundle of joy. Big sister Isabel was there to be one of the first to welcome AnnaSophia into our family. If you ask Isabel what she thought of seeing her little sister born she will tell you it was "NAAAASTY". Kya loves to kiss Sophie on the head and will say "love baby soapie". So far the adjustment to three has been pretty easy. But I am sure there will be challenges to come.

Like the other two, she has lots of dark hair!

Where's the hand sanitizer???

Proud big sisters!!!